Think of exam classes, say parents

Parents have urged teachers not to disrupt students’ education as they begin industrial action at 500 second-level schools today.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) has ordered its 16,000 working members not to take part in meetings outside school hours or to take on unpaid administrative duties. It has also told them they are no longer obliged to supervise classes of colleagues who have taken students on class trips or other events during school time.

The action follows a recent ballot to reject the Haddington Road deal on public sector pay, meaning ASTI members will not get pay increases due to teachers who started working since 2011 or increments if they had been due them this year.